Can LG Twins Jung Woo-young (24) survive?
Last season, Jung Woo-young recorded an average ERA of 2.64 with 2 wins, 3 losses and 35 holds in 67 games (58 innings), ranking first in the league hold. He was also selected for the national team in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held last March and was recognized as one of the best bullpen pitchers in the league.
However, Jung Woo-young, at the WBC, showed an uneasy appearance as the restraint that crossed the mid-to-late 150km per hour did not exceed 150km. Jung Woo-young, who did not recover his original speed until the season started, is only recording an ERA of 6.00 with 4 losses and 6 holds in 15 games (12 innings), shaking his pitch.
Jung Woo-young recorded a loss with 2 hits, 1 walk and 3 runs in ⅓ innings against Kiwoom on the 10th. Coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop had a long talk with Jung Woo-young while training before the game on the 11th. In a later interview, he said, “It was great to send Park Chan-hyuk out for a walk. He should have played at that timing, but it’s a pity. He said, “We need to make it clear that we play against batters who need to win and avoid batters who need to be avoided.” At that time, even if he gave 1 point, he should have played, but an accident occurred when he gave up a walk with an advantageous ball count.”
Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “In order for the team to return stably, the 7th, 8th and 9th innings must go stably. A bad situation has been occurring since April, but in the end, Jung Woo-young and Lee Jung-yong must come back to life so we can make the depth stronger as we think.” Team senior Lim Chan-gyu also said, “(Lee) Jeong-yong and (Jeong) Woo-young are having a hard time. I am cautious about saying come back soon. I hope you find your own condition step by step and do well. The team is looking at a high place, and I hope everyone recovers quickly and plays a good game,” cheering Jung Woo-young and Lee Jung-yong.
When asked if he would continue to appoint Jung Woo-young as a winning team, coach Yeom Kyung-yeop replied, “There is nothing to be solved by avoiding it.” Jung Woo-young must be the center of our team so that he can get on the right track. If Park Myeong-geun and Yoo Young-chan replace the geography of Jung Woo-young and Lee Jeong-yong, nothing will change in the end. Jung Woo-young and Lee Jung-yong have to do well to make the team stronger and thicker,” he emphasized.
Regarding Jung Woo-young’s sluggish performance, director Yeom Kyung-yeop pointed out that control was the cause. He said, “The first thing Jung Woo-young can’t do is control. Two-seam is effective only when you enter a low course. Jung Woo-Young is the best pitcher when the strike zone is formed low. Only then will the two-seam movement grow and become more effective.”
Coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop, citing Brandon Knight, who played for Samsung and Nexen (currently Kiwoom) in the past, as an example, said, “There is only one reason why two-seam pitchers are good. If your two-seam is high, you will be hit by hitters unconditionally. Knight also won 16 wins when I was with me, but at that time the strike zone was low and well formed in every corner. But he started to get high in his two-seam, and he eventually left the team.” 스포츠토토
Director Yeom Kyung-yeop pointed out the pitching balance as the cause of Jung Woo-young’s control power shaking, saying, “Jung Woo-young’s balance is not constant after all, so he can’t control and pitches high.” Then, when asked if the slide step was the cause, he said, “The slide step is a part that must be fixed someday. It is more important to do well in the next 10 years than to do well this year. For those 10 years, it is better to change as soon as possible. Isn’t he also greedy for the major leagues? So far, I think Jung Woo-young’s baseball has not been completed, but he needs to fill in the basics as a pitcher.”
Fans are watching with anxious eyes to see if Jung Woo-young, who is going through extreme growing pains, can succeed in rebounding for the rest of the season.